Andaman And Nicobar Islands

PANAJI: The Indian navy today commissioned its largest off shore patrol vessel INS Saryu for maritime surveillance around Andaman and Nicobar islands. Built at Goa Shipyard Limited , the 105-meter vessel is the first of the four new class naval off shore patrol vessels (NOPVs) that would be commissioned by the Indian Navy over next one-and-half year. "The ship will help the navy to discharge its duty on the eastern coast. It will patrol the exclusive economic...

PORT BLAIR: Private airline GoAir today announced 30 per cent concession on base fare of its flights operating to and from Port Blair throughout the year for residents of Andaman and Nicobar Islands . "It is indeed very satisfying to make our humble contribution in the development of Port Blair ... by connecting it to several Indian cities on the mainland," GoAir Vice President (Airports, Customer Services & Nodal Officer) Kamal Kikani said here. ...

PORT BLAIR: The Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar islands goes to poll tomorrow to send its lone representative to the Lok Sabha . There are 15 candidates in the fray, out of which five are independents. The poll battle is practically a straight contest between the Congress, which won the seat continuously until 2004 with the exception of 1999, and the BJP, though there are national level parties like the NCP, BSP, CPI-M, SP and TMC in...

CHENNAI: Slight tremors were felt in parts of Chennai on Sunday after two successive moderate intensity earthquakes rocked the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. According to Met department officials, calls were received at the Met Centre from parts of Besant Nagar and Santhome in the city, with people reporting "mild tremors" in these localities. However, officials ruled out any danger to the metropolis. No damage to life or property has been reported, police said.

PORT BLAIR: The banking sector of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has got a fillip with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) granting license to the A&N State Co-operative Bank (ANSCB) to open three more bank branches at Kamorta, Chouldari and Dollygunj. These branches would be in addition to the nine branches, licenses for which was granted by the RBI in April this year. The nine branches to be opened shortly across various places of A&N Islands include Long Island,...

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorology Department on Tuesday said that conditions are becoming favourable for the advance of southwest monsoon over South Andaman Sea and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal around May 17th. Pre monsoon rain and thundershowers occurred at most places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh; at many places over Punjab, Assam & Meghalaya; at a few places over Andaman & Nicobar islands and isolated places over Uttarakhand...

Sunday's tsunami tidal waves have not only brought catastrophe and havoc to India's outlying island territories, it has also wrecked Indian Air Force's plans to turn the Car Nicobar island into a major fighter base. Keeping in view the strategic geographic location of this island as it straddles access to Malacca Strait waterways through which 75% of the world's crude oil passes, the Air Force had planned to expand the small base into a major air hub by placing the frontline SU-30 MKI fighter planes...

NEW DELHI: The government said there was no immediate Tsunami threat to country's mainland and the Andaman and Nicobar islands in view of a strong 7.2-magnitude quake which hit the Indonesian province of Aceh on Sunday. The Centre although said it has advised concerned state governments to take adequate precautionary measures in order to mitigate any disaster arising from the alert. The quake struck at a depth of 30 kilometres and 66 kilometres...

CHENNAI: Infrastructure development company RPP Infra Projects has bagged two orders from IGCAR Kalpakkam and Public Works Department of Andaman and Nicobar Islands totally valued at Rs about 340 million. The Erode-based company, in a filing to the BSE, said it had won Rs 163 million from Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research , Kalpakkam for construction of roads and storm water drainage works in their phase II unit. Besides securing this...

NEW DELHI: Funds relating to Tsunami relief were diverted for other purposes, while the process of identification of beneficiaries and verification of claims was not foolproof, a Parliamentary panel has said. An amount of Rs 4.88 crore was diverted in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Puducherry, the Public Accounts Committee said in its report Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation. The Committee also found that there was an...

MUMBAI: A financial package of Rs 7,000 crore for the tsunami-affected states would be announced by the Centre tomorrow, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said. A separate package will be announced for modernisation of tsunami-hit Andaman and Nicobar Islands, he added. Of the Rs 7,000 crore, the Tamil Nadu government has sought Rs 4,800 crore. Mr Pawar said since 80% of the tsunami-affected people belonged to the fishing community, the government will also offer soft...

PORT BLAIR: Turnout for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands was recorded at 70 per cent today, the election office said. The final percentage might rise, the sources said. The poll battle was practically a straight contest between the Congress, which won the seat continuously until 2004 with the exception of 1999, and the BJP though there were national level parties like the NCP, BSP, CPI-M, SP and TMC in...

PORT BLAIR: The Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar islands goes to poll tomorrow to send its lone representative to the Lok Sabha . There are 15 candidates in the fray, out of which five are independents. The poll battle is practically a straight contest between the Congress, which won the seat continuously until 2004 with the exception of 1999, and the BJP, though there are national level parties like the NCP, BSP, CPI-M, SP and TMC...

MUMBAI: Sharad Pawar-led NCP today promised reservations to Muslims as well as Marathas, implementation of Rajinder Sachar committee report, and support for 'statehood to Andaman and Nicobar' in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections, released here. It also advocated privatisation of agriculture; privatisation and price protection to farmers would be government's strategy "to synergies agriculture growth", the manifesto said. Private sector's participation would be promoted...

NEW DELHI: At least 21 persons were killed today when an overcrowded tourist boat capsized on the Andaman Sea near here in the Andaman and Nicobar islands . Two passengers were missing and 23 persons were rescued after the boat carrying 46 passengers sank on its way from Ross Island to the North Bay at around 4 PM, said P Johar, Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman district. Sources in the district administration said that the boat had a capacity to carry 25 people,...

PORT BLAIR: Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lt Gen (Retd) AK Singh , today urged the people of the Union Territory to take part in the government's development programmes. Greeting the islanders on the 65th Republic Day , Singh urged them to dedicate themselves to the cause of freedom, unity and solidarity. He payed homage to the freedom fighters and martyrs who made the supreme sacrifice to safeguard the...

NEW DELHI: With the Environment Ministry red-flagging a naval missile firing range in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Defence Ministry today said it will find an alternative place to develop its testing site. The proposal to develop the missile firing range has been turned down to protect the habitat of endangered bird Nicobar Megapode, which is found only in that region. "I was in Port Blair along with all officials yesterday and had detailed discussions...

Government employees are smiling all the way to the bank as additional benefits will now be available to them. These come in the form of higher allowances while posted in remote areas and merging of dearness allowance with the basic pay. Central government employees will gain as the government has accepted the recommendation of the fifth central pay commission that DA to the extent of 50% of the pay will be merged with the basic pay from April...

CHENNAI: A cyclonic storm named 'Madi' would intensify into a severe cyclonic storm, bringing rain or thundershowers over some parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh during the next 48 hours, Indian Meteorological Department said today. "The depression over southwest Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm 'MADI' early this morning and will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and move nearly northwards very slowly in the next 48 hours," an IMD...

NEW DELHI: DRDO has proposed setting up of two Missile Test Ranges in Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Andhra Pradesh and requests for diversion of forest land have been made, the government said today. The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has proposed establishment of the test ranges at Rutland Islands of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Nagayalanka in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh. "A proposal for diversion of forest...